Arthur Machen is a great romantic, one of the founders of the mystical genre. Among the many fans of his work are Oscar Wilde, Aleister Crowley, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Jorge Luis Borges, Stephen King, Guillermo del Toro... Arthur Machen was born and raised in Wales, where, according to Lovecraft, he “absorbed the medieval mystery of the dark forests and ancient customs." Perhaps this is where this unique atmosphere of mystical awe reigns in all the books of the writer, whose heroes are faced with the dark mysteries of life and death... This edition includes two of Machen’s novels, which can conventionally be called “autobiographical”. From childhood, their heroes feel like strangers in the hectic world of big cities. A rich imagination and gift for writing make them seek refuge in dreams, where strange, bizarre creatures live among idyllic nature...